Fire escape



Jan- 5, 1946- s.- CHIARELLO ,2,393,087

FIRE ESCAPE Filed Jan. 23, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @Wn/naga Jan. 15, 1946.` a CHMRELLO 2,393,087

,FIRE ESCAPE I Filed Jan. 23, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 2 FIRE ESCAPE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 25, 1945 3mm 'Sie/@720 zzare ZZ@ Jn. 15, i946. s CHMRELLQ l. 2,393,087

FIRE ESCAPE Filed Jan. 25, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 4' Patented Jan. 15, 1946 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE FIRE ESCAPE Stefano Charello, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 23, 1945, Serial No. 574,062

8 Claims.

This invention relates to fire escapes and has special reference to a portable fire escape which may be taken from place to place.

One important object of the invention is to provide a novel form of portable fire vescape wherein the device, when in use, will be of substantially the same character as the fire escapes commonly fixed to houses.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel portable fire escapehaving a lazy tongs arrangement which carries stairs and platforms so that when expanding this arrangement may extend up the side of a house as does the usual xed lire escape.

A third important object of the invention is to provide, in connection with a re escape of this character, platforms having sliding sections for connection of the fire escape to a burning building at different iioors thereof, the platforms being capable of extending from the re escape to the windows on the different oors.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character .wherein there is a combination of stair means and chute means so that not only may people descend the 1.-'

fire escape by way of the stairs but the contents of a building may be saved by sliding articles down these chutes.

A fth important object of the invention is to provide a device 0f this character having hydraulic jack means to hold the device steady on and against movement along the ground or paven ment.

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide, in connection with the lire escape, a

crane for lowering heavy articles from a building or for raising or lowering such articles for various purposes.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section on the line of Figure 3 of the improved re escape in position for being moved along a street or on a truck or the like. y

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly lin section, showing the fire escape in expanded position ready for securing in place.

Figure 3 is a detail section on line 3-3 of Fig- -ure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the re escape at right angles to Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6 of FigureV 1.

Figure 7 is a section on line I-l of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a detail view showing one of the levers making up the lazy tongs arrangement.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view of the universal joint of the crane jib.

In the embodiment of the invention as herein illustrated there is provided a platform or base I0 carried on wheels II swivelly mounted under the base by ball-bearings I2. Extending transversely of the base are guides I3 wherein are slidably mounted the heads I4 of hydraulic jacks I5 Y arranged to receive uid under pressure through pipes I'I. These jacks have their heads elongated as best seen in Figure 3 so that, in connection with the guides I3, they form telescopic supports. When in use the jacks are moved to protracted positions such as shown in Figure 3 and pressure applied until the bases of these jacks engage the ground or pavement suiiiciently to take the weight oil the wheels II, thus xing the platform in position for use. Toward each side of the platform there is provided a pair of posts I6 on which are tted yokes Il held on ,the posts by nuts I8. The yokes atr each side of the device are connected by a pair of bars I9 having registering slots 2|). Between the pairs of bars I9 is a pair of parallel screws 2| supported in bearings 22. These screws carry bevel gears 23 which mesh with bevel gears 24 fixed on a shaft 25. This shaft extends into a gear box 26 in which the gearing, not shown, is controlled by lever 2'I. The gearing in this gear box is driven through a shaft 28 by means of a motor 29. Extending between the pairs of bars I9 is a cross-bar 30 through which the screws 2l are threaded. This cross-bar has reduced ends 3| on each of which is mounted a pair of lrollers 32 working in the slots 20. Between the lbars I9 there is mounted on each end 3| one end of a lazy tongs lever 33 which is held in proper position on said end 3| by washers 34. A collar 35 is pinned on the outer end of reduced end 3| -to hold parts properly adjusted. Also the yokes I'I are secured to the bars I 9 by means of pins 36 and on each pin 36 remote from the slots 20 is pivoted one end of a second lazy tongs lever 3l. The levers 33 and 31 intersect each other and are pivotally connected at their centers by pivots 38. 'Ifo the free ends of the levers 33 and 31 are connected other lazy tongs levers 33 and 4|) and these, of course, are held by pivots 4l. This connection of other levers to the ends of those below is repeated until the required number of levers has been assembled in accordance with the height to which the flre escape is intended to extend.

At the uppermost pair of levers such as 39 and 40 the free ends of these levers carry yokes 42 which support telescopic guide members 43 and 44. This fglldeearrangement ,prevents ,swaying laterally :of V4t'he lazy" tongs when and" during elevation. Each of the levers 39 and 40 carries an angularly disposed tongue 45 shown in Figure 10 that is adapted to t in a guide 46 carriedby a platform 41. As shown in Figure 5 this platform 5j supports one or more sliding sections 4.8so that the sections may be extended transversely ofthe platform or base I0. In someinstances'this telescopic guide may be replaced by such ,platforms as are shown at 49 and in Figure 6, this form or chutes. Villaclfiiiffthe :alternate 1levers Ylll --and 31. cari '.'stairs"5ll. fCorrespondngly ithefleve'rs 33 and ach lever-39 'fcarries `lafcl'nite :section 5|. Thun'fivhnsthedevice is'fexpadided as in Figure 2, the @platforms 4-1 andate 'will :lie :in horizontal position vhile the -chute fandr 'stair sections of the dazy-'tongswill li'e'in inclined position vso 'that a person maydescend theEla/zy tongs, itransferring -iromisectionvto seotionwof' fthe-stairs lby the platforms 41. or one mayk slide z articles ydown the "chutes, vtransferring one sectionto another of the `=-chiiteiarx:an'gement atithe'platforms 49.

'In order rto relieve'stress on Athe screws-21 Vthere -fi'saprovided iforf'each ipair'offbars :I9 a hook -mem- Aper l52 "which 'in tone position allows the bar 139 iltofmove'in'the slots 2.0 but whenin another posiition-*sxchfas 'is shown inv-dotted lines in Figure 1, :these *hoksswill engagethe collars 35,thus taking 'the ,stress oli -the screws. The motor '29 Lhas its vvvshaftsextending entirely therethrough and en- Iteringialgear1'box53 to drive the gearing therein,

'latter not Abeingrshowm which is -controlled Vby fa slever A54. `Associated with tthe gearing in this is-:afshaft carrying -a bevel vgeart which Ymeshes with fa bevelgear V51 fixed on the shaft `5zof"a winding drum'- 5&1.l `@nthis drum is wound ascablew which extends vupwardly through a -#guide@pulley '.61 lcarriedfby a'bracket 62 supported by therpin connectionJSS of one of the yokes 42.

veThis-cable,'afterfpassing the guide pulley, extends ltowan'feyeflaat 'the fouter Yend of a crane jib 65 connected to on'e of the vvlazy -tongs levers by 'means of-a vuniversal joint arrangement iBS best 'shokvnin Figure 11. v#Depending from the outer -end `of Athis jib Vis a pulley-B1 through which `a, `hoist'iing rope may run. Thisarrangement is to enable weightsetoo heavy A*to be Vreadily handled manually to Abe removed 4from burning Vbuildings nevertheless to Abe understood that minor changes v.may Joie made therein 4withoutdeparting from the spiritandscope-of the invention vas claimed.

-.I"elaim:

Llena nre escape, rapair of :spaced lazyetongs ,'stnuctures, `:each iconsisting of a .ser-ies of pairs of levers, each pair being centrally connected by pivot means and the ends of each pair between the upper and lower terminal pairs being pivotally connected, means to move the lower ends of each lower terminal pair toward and from each other, landing platforms angularly disposed with respect to said levers to lie in a horizontal position upon the lazy-tongs being in elevated position, a rolling platform supporting .said lazy-tongs, .and horizontally .shiftable jacks 'depending from 'said platform for Aa'nclfioring the platform immovably on its supporting surface.

y 2. In a nre escape, a pair of spaced lazy-tongs structures, each consisting of a series of pairs y@of levers, each pair being centrally connected by rpivot means and the ends of each pair between the upper and lower terminal pairs being pivotally conneoted,'rneans to move the lower ends of each lower terminal pair toward and from each other, landing platforms angularly disposed with |respect-to said :levers to l-ie a horizontal 'position iupon thefrlazy-tongs being zin'elevated position, stairs carriedby alternate leverspfeach lazy-tongs 'and connected to opposite rends '.ofvertically faitern'ateplatforms, :arolling platform .supporting 'said `lazy-tongs, :and horizontally shiftable jacks depending from said platform for anchoring the platform :immovably on its `supporting-surface. l

3. 1n :a lire escape, "a :pair of spaced vlazy-tongs structures, each consisting -of :a ser-ies v.of pairs-0f levers, each pair ybeing centrally connected -Fby pivot means and the ends of each Vpair .between the upper and lower terminalpairsbeing pivotally connected, :means tomove the lower iends-iof .each lower terminalpair 'toward land lfrom eachother, landingplatforms angularlyrdisposed with respect to'said .levers to Alie ina horizontal .position upon the lazy-tongs -being in elevated gposition, chutes Vcarried by alternate levers :of each lazy-tongs and connected lto opposite .ends of :said -`plat- -for-ms, a. rolling platform supporting said lazytongs, and .horizontally shiftable `jacksfdepending rom :said .platform :for anchoring the platform -immovably on `its supporting surface.

4. .In a `fire wesca-pe, .a pair -of :spaced :lazy-,tongs structures, Qeach rconsisting of a ser-ies of pairs of levers, each pair being centrally connected 1by pivot means and the -ends'of -each Ypair between -the upper and .lower terminal pairs being pivotal-ly connected, means `to .move the flowerends ,of each lower terminal pair toward and from each other, landing platforms angularly disposed with .respect 'to said levers to lie .in a ,horizontal :position upon `,the .lazy-tongs y'bei-ng in 'elevated -position, telescopic A:guide means connecting the upper ends fof `each terminal 'pair of levers, fa rolling platform supporting said lazy-tongs, and horizontally shiftablej'acks depending from `said .platform .for anchoring the platform immovabl-y `onits-supportingsurface. Y

75. .-In a fire escape, apair of spaced lazy-"tongs structures, teach :consisting of a, series 'of pairs V1of. levers, -each v`pair being centrally connected lby pi-vot rmeans and the ends zof each fpai-r between the upper and lower terminal :pa-irs being pivotally connected, means yto move the.lower ends of leach, lower terminal pair toward and from each other, :landing ,platforms .angularly disposed with respect to .said :levers ,to lie .in a horizontal position ,upon fthe lazy-tongs -being in elevated position, stairs .carried by alternate levers of each lazy-tongs andjconnectedto op'- posite ends of vertically alternate platforms, ltelescopic guide means connecting the upperv ends of each terminal pair of levers, a rolling platform supporting said lazy-tongs, and means for anchoring said platform immovably on its supporting surface.

6. In a re escape, a pair of spaced lazy-tongs structures, each consisting of a series of pairs of levers, each pair being centrally connected :by pivot means and the ends of each pair between the upper and lower treminal pairs ybeing pivotally connected, means to move the lower ends of each lower terminal pair toward and from each other, landing platforms angularly disposed with respect to said levers to lie in a horizontal position upon the lazy-tongs being in elevated position, chutes carried by alternate levers of each lazy-tongs and connected to opposite ends of said platforms, telescopic guide means connecting the upper ends of each terminal pair of levers, a rolling platform supporting said lazy-tongs, and horizontally shiftable jacks depending from said platform for anchoring the platform immovably on its supporting surface.

7. In a re escape, a pair of spaced lazy-tongs structures, each consisting of a series off pairs of levers, each pair being centrally connected by pivot means and the ends of each pair between the upper and lower terminal pairs being pivotally connected, means to move the lower ends of each lower terminal pair toward and from each other, landing platforms angularly disposed with respect to said levers to lie in a. horizontal position upon the lazy-tongs being in elevated position, stairs carried by alternate levers of each lazy-tongs and connected to opposite ends of vertically alternate platforms, chutes carried by alternate levers of each lazy-tongs and connected to opposite ends of said platforms, a rolling platform supporting said lazy-tongs, and means for anchoring said platform immovably on its supporting surface.

8. In a lire escape, a pair of spaced lazy-tongs lstructures, each consisting of a series of pairs of levers, each pair being centrally connected .by pivot means and the ends of each pair between the upper and lower terminal pairs being pivotally connected, means to move the lower ends of each lower terminal pair toward and from each other, landing platforms angularly disposed with respect to said levers to lie in a horizontal position upon the lazy-tongs being in elevated position, stairs carried by alternate levers of each lazy-tongs and connected to opposite ends of vertically alternate platforms, chutes carried by alternate levers of each lazy-tongs and connected to opposite ends of said platforms, telescopic guide means connecting the upper ends of each terminal pair of levers, a rolling platform supporting said lazy-tongs, and means for anchoring said platform immovably on its supporting surface.

STEFANO CHIARELLO. 

